General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Where are the craftsmen of tomorrow? [View all]KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)Played soccer for a while until about 5th grade when it got very competitive and the coaches and some parents seemed to think they were training these kids for the Olympics (by screaming at them). It wasn't fun anymore and I don't blame him for walking away.
I got him an electric guitar when he was about 13 and in addition to learning to play it well, he learned to take it all apart, swap out the pick-ups, etc. He got another guitar just to strip, repaint and customize. Now he custom makes and sells items on Etsy as a fulltime career.
One of my colleagues is about 25 now and he is a phenomenal woodworker. Does inlays, builds custom furniture and interiors. Just opened his own boutique hotel with interiors that completely done with reclaimed wood and is booked solid.
The next generation of craftsmen is out there and your grand kids may yet join them. Kids have to see the benefit and feel the satisfaction of being able to something that most can't. (Getting paid for it helps too.) Childhood lasts longer now than when we were growing up and 12 years old is emotionally younger than it used to be (for boys). Don't give up.